Calories in Spirulina

📏 Serving Size: 1 tablespoon (7.0g)

🧪 Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
  • Calories 20.3
  • Total Fat 0.5 g
  • Saturated Fat 0.2 g
  • Cholesterol 0.0 mg
  • Sodium 73.4 mg
  • Potassium 95.4 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate 1.7 g
  • Dietary Fiber 0.3 g
  • Sugars 0.2 g
  • Protein 4.0 g
Vitamins & Minerals
  • Vitamin A 39.9 IU
  • Vitamin B-12 0.0 µg
  • Vitamin B-6 0.0 mg
  • Vitamin C 0.7 mg
  • Vitamin D 0.0 IU
  • Vitamin E 0.4 mg
  • Calcium 8.4 mg
  • Copper 0.4 mg
  • Folate 6.6 µg
  • Iron 2.0 mg
  • Magnesium 13.7 mg
  • Manganese 0.1 mg
  • Niacin 0.9 mg
  • Pantothenic Acid 0.2 mg
  • Phosphorus 8.3 mg
  • Riboflavin 0.3 mg
  • Thiamin 0.2 mg
  • Zinc 0.1 mg

Note: Nutrition information comes from the USDA Food Central Database. Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet (FDA). Actual requirements vary by individual. Use at your own risk.

📋 Nutrition Summary

Spirulina is a very low-calorie food at 20.3 calories per serving (1 tablespoon (7.0g)), making it a smart choice for calorie-conscious diets. Protein is the dominant macronutrient at 4.0g per serving (58.2% of calories), which supports muscle repair and satiety. It contains 2.0mg of iron (11% DV), which plays a key role in oxygen transport and energy metabolism.

🏷️ Diet & Nutrition Tags

✅ Low Carb / Keto-Friendly ✅ Low Fat ✅ Low Calorie

Tags are generated automatically from USDA nutrition data using standard dietary thresholds. They are for general guidance only and are not medical advice.

📝 Ingredients

Dried Spirulina (arthrospira Platensis).

🔬 Ingredient Analysis

✅ Clean Ingredients

No artificial preservatives, sweeteners, colours, emulsifiers, flavour enhancers, or synthetic fortification agents were detected in the ingredient list for Spirulina. This does not guarantee the food is unprocessed or free from all additives — always read the full ingredient label.

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📊 % Daily Value

The following shows how one serving of Spirulina contributes to the recommended daily intake for key nutrients, based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Nutrient Amount % Daily Value
Calories20.3 kcal1%
Total Fat0.5 g1%
Saturated Fat0.2 g1%
Sodium73.4 mg3%
Total Carbohydrate1.7 g1%
Dietary Fiber0.3 g1%
Total Sugars0.2 g0%
Protein4.0 g8%
Vitamin A39.9 IU1%
Vitamin C0.7 mg1%
Vitamin E0.4 mg2%
Thiamin (B-1)0.17 mg14%
Riboflavin (B-2)0.26 mg20% ✅
Niacin (B-3)0.9 mg6%
Pantothenic Acid (B-5)0.24 mg5%
Vitamin B-60.03 mg1%
Folate6.6 µg2%
Calcium8.4 mg1%
Iron2.0 mg11%
Potassium95.4 mg2%
Magnesium13.7 mg3%
Phosphorus8.3 mg1%
Zinc0.1 mg1%
Copper0.43 mg47% ✅
Manganese0.13 mg6%
Selenium0.5 µg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ✅ marks ≥20% DV (FDA "good source" threshold); ⭐ marks ≥100% DV (a full day's value).

🔥 Calorie Analysis

Spirulina accounts for 1% of a standard 2,000 calorie daily diet per serving. The majority of the calories for this food comes from protein. Protein makes up 58.2% of the calories.

Fat 17.6%
Carbs 24.2%
Protein 58.2%
Fat 17.6% Carbs 24.2% Protein 58.2%

🏃 Exercise Burn Time

How long would it take to burn off the 20.3 calories in Spirulina? The table below shows burn time for a 170-pound person doing common exercises.

Exercise Minutes to Burn
Running: 10 minutes per mile 1.5 min
Walking: 17 minutes per mile 3.5 min
Cycling (Low Intensity) 2.2 min
HIIT 1.9 min
Paddle Boarding 2.5 min

Find more information on calories burned doing popular exercises.

💬 Nutrition Q&A: Spirulina

Is Spirulina good for weight loss?

Spirulina is extremely low in calories at just 20 per tablespoon, making it easy to add to meals without significant caloric impact. With 4g of protein and minimal carbs and sugar, it supports satiety and stable blood sugar levels, both helpful for weight management.

Is Spirulina a good snack for kids?

While spirulina is nutritious, its intense flavor and unusual texture make it challenging for most kids to enjoy on its own. Blending it into smoothies, mixing into pasta sauces, or adding to pancake batter can make it more palatable for younger palates.

What diets does Spirulina suit?

This works well for high-protein diets, vegan and vegetarian eating plans, keto and low-carb approaches, and paleo-aligned diets. Its minimal carbohydrate and sugar content also makes it suitable for diabetic-friendly meal planning.

What does Spirulina pair well with for a balanced meal?

Blend spirulina into smoothies with fruits and yogurt, stir it into soups or broths, or mix into energy balls with nuts and dates. It also works in salad dressings, pasta sauces, and grain bowls where its flavor can be balanced by other ingredients.

How does Spirulina fit into a balanced diet?

Spirulina contributes meaningful amounts of protein and iron to your diet while adding virtually no calories or sugar. Its high nutrient density makes it a concentrated source of plant-based amino acids and minerals, though it works best as a supplement to whole foods rather than a primary food source.

Nutrition Q&A answers are based on USDA nutritional data and are for general informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional dietary or medical advice.

📰 Featured Blog Post

Fruits Ranked by Calories: The Complete Guide Fruits Ranked by Calories: The Complete Guide

This is the complete reference guide to fruit nutrition — covering calories, sugar, fibre, and the best fruits for specific dietary goals. Use the links below to jump to the section most relevant to your needs, or browse the full rankings below. Complete Fruit Calorie Rankings Here are the most common fruits ranked by calories per 100g, from lowest to highest: Watermelon — 30 cal See nutrition Strawberries — 32 cal See nutrition Cantaloupe — 34 cal See nutrition Peach — 39 cal See nutrition Grapefruit — 42 cal See nutrition Blackberries — 43 cal See nutrition Orange — 47 cal See nutrition Pineapple — 50 cal See nutrition Apple — 52 cal See nutrition Raspberries — 52 cal See nutrition Blueberries — 57 cal See nutrition Dragon fruit — 60 cal See nutrition Mango — 60 cal See nutrition Kiwi — 61 cal See nutrition Cherries — 63 cal See nutrition Grapes — 67 cal See nutrition Banana — 89 cal See nutrition Avocado — 160 cal See nutrition Core Rankings Lowest Calorie Fruits Ranked — watermelon, strawberries, and raspberries lead the list Highest Calorie Fruits Ranked — avocado, banana, and mango top the list Fruits Ranked by Sugar Content — avocado and berries are lowest; banana and grapes are highest Fruits Ranked by Fiber Content — raspberries, blackberries, and avocado lead Best Fruits for Weight Loss — berries, grapefruit, and apple are the top choices Fresh vs Other Formats Fresh vs Frozen Fruit — nutritionally similar, frozen wins for out-of-season fruit Dried vs Fresh Fruit — dried fruit has 4-8x more calories per gram Fruit Juice vs Whole Fruit — whole fruit wins on fibre, satiety, and blood sugar impact Smoothie vs Whole Fruit — smoothies can contain 300-600 calories; whole fruit is more filling Diet and Use Case Low Sugar Fruits for Diabetics — berries, avocado, and grapefruit are the best choices Keto Friendly Fruits Ranked — avocado, raspberries, and blackberries fit keto macros Best Fruits Before a Workout — banana, mango, and watermelon are top choices Best Fruits After a Workout — tart cherries, banana, and blueberries lead for recovery Seasonal and Exotic Tropical Fruits Ranked by Calories — from 30-cal papaya to 160-cal avocado Summer Fruits Ranked by Calories — watermelon, strawberries, peaches, and cherries Winter Fruits Ranked by Calories — citrus, kiwi, pomegranate, and pears Dragon Fruit vs Kiwi — kiwi wins on vitamin C; dragon fruit wins on iron Fruit Comparisons For detailed side-by-side nutrition comparisons see: Apple vs Banana Blueberries vs Strawberries Avocado vs Apple Blueberries vs Banana Using Our Fruit Nutrition Tools Track your daily fruit intake with our Food Tracker.

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